Sewing-machine.



W. F. LAUTENSOHLAGER.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17,1907.

Patented May 31, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. F. LAUTENSGHLAGEB. SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17,1907.

959,948. Patented May 31, 1910.

7 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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W. F. LAUTENSGHLAGER.

SEWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.17

Patented May 31, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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WILLIAM F. LAUTENSCHLAGEIR; 0F CINCINNATI, OHIQ,

SEWING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31;1910.,

Application filed April 17, 1907. Serial No. 368,735.

To all whom it may concern: 5

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. LAUTEN- SCHLAGER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates primarily to a sew-- ing machine employing a needlehaving an eye at its penetrating end extending or opening in a directionsubstantially parallel with the seam or feed so that the loop formed bythe withdrawal of the needle will also be normally substantiallyparallel with said seam or feed.

The invention consists in providing new and improved adjustable meanswhereby said loop is directed sidewardly for being properlyreceived by aloop-taker or penetrator moving at the side of the needle, whether saidloop-taker or penetrator be a hook, shuttle, or other reciprocating,rotary or oscillating loop-taking or penetrating devlce.

My invention consists further in providing a rotary loop-taker and aloop-shifter, the loop-taker having a hook and the loopshifter beingoperated by a cam, the said hook and cam being so located about therotary axis of said loop-taker as to cause operation of the loop-shifterin advance of the arrival of said hook at the loop position; and furtherin means for shifting the angular positions of the loop-shifter.

My invention consists further in providing new and improved adjustablemeans for protecting the supply-limb of said loop from engagement bythehook of the loop-taker or penetrator. Y

My invention consists further in providing a multi-needle sewing machinewlth a plurality of loop-takers or penetrators, and with needles havingeyes opening in substantially the direction of-feed of the machinelocated between said loop-takers or penetrators, and with means fordirecting the thread-loops in opposite directions for engagement by saidrespective loop-takers or penetrators; and further, in the parts, and inthe construction, arrangement and combinations of parts,hereinaftermore-fully described and claimed.

In my improved device I employ a needle havlng' an eye projected insubstantially the direction of theseam or feed for forming a loop at theback of the needle, which loop I guide laterally for causing it toextend in a direction transverse to the direction of extension of theneedle-eye, and I employ a loop-taker or penetratorat the side of theneedle for taking or penetrating the loop thus guided or directed out ofits normal position, and l preferthat the loop-taker or penetrator atthe initiating of the looptaking or penetrating shall move substantiallyparallel with the direction of extension of the needle-eye at the pointadjacent to the needle when receiving or penetrating the loo 1 haveillustrated one form of device which my invention may assume,illustrating my invention in connection with a so-called rotaryloop-taker for forming a lock-stitch, with a mechanically operatingloop-shifter for directing the loop nto the path'of. the hook of theloop-taker.

In the drawings: Figurelis afront elevation'of so much of a sewingmachine as is necessary to show in connection with my invention, thesame having my invention applied thereto, with the supply-limb shieldomitted for better illustration of parts. Fig. 2 is a head-end elevationof the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of my invention, withthe supply-limb shield omitted, showing the needle in its lowermostpenetrated position, with the needle about to ascend for forming theloop. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a frontelevation of my invention, with the supplylimb shield omitted, showingthe loop formed and directed sidewardly and just received by theloop-taker or penetrator. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 7is a plan view, partly broken away, showing my invention, with theloop-taker or penetrator in its position for initially receiving orpenetrating the loop. Fig. 8 1s a plan view partly broken away showingthe relation between the needle and its eye, the loop-taker orpenetrator, and the direction of feed. Fig. 9 is a bottom view showingthe relation between the loop-taker or penetrator, the needle, theneedle guard, and the actuating cam for the loop-finger. Fig. 10 7 is aside elevation partly in central vertical section, of the loop-taker andfinger and showing the operative connection between the same. Fig. 11 isa bottom pers ective view'showingthe relation betweent e needle, theloop-taker, the finger, and theshield for the supply-limb of theneedle-thread.

Fig. 12 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 13 is a rear View of myinvention with the supply-limb shield in position. Fig. 14 is anenlarged view, in side elevation, partly in section, showing the needlebeing withdrawn from the material, with the threadloop partially formed.Fig. 15 is a plan view showing the face side of the stitching made whenemploying a needle having a sidewardly opening eye and a loop-taker orpenetrator at the side of the needle. Fig. 16 is a cross-section of thestitching made on a two-needle sewing machine employing a singleloop-taker or penetrator for both loops of the two needle threads. Fig.17 is a plan View showing the face side of stitching made when employingmy invention. Fig. 18 is a front elevation of my invention as applied toa two-needle sewing machine, with the supply-limb shield omitted. Fig.19 is a plan View thereof, partly broken away; and Fig. 20 is a bottomView of my invention applied to a two-needle sewing machine.

1 represents the frame of a sewing machine in which a needle-bar 2 iscaused to reciprocate in any suitable or usual manner.

3 is a resser-wheel which may also take the form of a presser-foot andbe supported on a presser-bar 4 in any suitable manner.

5 is a feeder which is caused to reciprocate forwardly and back in anysuitable manner for causing the material, shown at b, to be fed underthe needle, not more particularly shown because well-known, thedirection of movement of the feeder and the normal direction ofextension of the seam being indicated by the arrow 6. i

7 is a needle which has an eye 8 adjacent its point 9, which eye extendsin the direction of the seam, that is, parallel with the direction ofreciprocation of the feed-rack as indicated by the arrow. The needle hasits long groove 10 at its front and at its rear it has its short groove11. The thread 12 passes through the eye with its supply-limb 19received by the long groove 10 when piercing the goodsand its seam-limb14 received by the short groove 11 when the needle pierces the material.The stretch of the needle-thread passing through the needleeye with thesupply-limb 13 and the seamlimb 14 lies in a line parallel with the lineof movement of the feeder. This insures thatthe laying of theneedle-thread will be continuously in the direction of the seam or feedboth during the formation of the seam and after the seam is completed'In this manner a straight seam g is formed in which the stitches h areparallel with the seam as shown in Fig. 17, the, zig-zag efiect, shownat a in Fig. 15, resulting from the employmentof a needle having an eyeextending at right angles to the line of feed, being avoided.

When the needle has pierced the material and .its ascent or return isinitiated, a loop 17 is formed which normally extends in a directionparallel with the needle-eye. This loop comprises the seam-limb 14 atthe short groove side of the needle, shown at the rear side of theneedle in the present exemplification, which is the part of the loopadapted to receive the loop-taker or penetrator. This seam-limb extendsfrom the seam already formed to the needle-eye. The loop also comprisesthe supply-limb 13. The bend in this part of the loop is however slight.It is formed at the long-groove side of the needle, but as the thread atthis side of the needle lies in the long groove, the frictional contactbetween the thread and the material is thereby relieved and the threadof this supply-limb has a tendency to pass upwardly with the needle sothat but a slight bend is formed therein. In order however to protectthis bend or supply-limb from being engaged by a looptaker orpenetrator, I provide the throatplate 19, through which the needlepasses, with a shield 20, between which shield and the needle, thesupply-limb of the loop is received. This shield is adjustably securedto the throat-plate by a screw 21 passing through a slot 22 in theshield into the throat-plate. The shield has a clearancerecess 23 forthe loop-taking hook.

At the side of the needle 1 provide a suitable loop-taker or penetratorwhich may be of suitable form or design. In the present exemplificationof my invention 1 have shown a rotary loop-taker of usual construction,comprising a rotating hook 24 adapted to engage the loop 17 and guide itaround a suitable bobbin-holder or shuttle 25 having a bobbin 26therein, the bobbin carrying the lower or locking-thread of the seam,the present exemplification of my invention showing a lock-stitch'sewing machine. This loop-taker may also have a usual needle-guard 27thereon, shown as a protrusion on the loop-taker, against which theneedle may impinge in its descent for preventing bending or breaking ofthe needle, or contact therewith by the loop-taker. The loop formed atthe short-groove face of the needle is normally projected parallel withthe seam or direction of feed, and suitable mechanism is employed fordirecting this loop out of its normal position laterally into a positionfor being received by the looptaker or penetrator at the side of theneedle. I have shown this loop-shifter as a moving device comprising afinger adapted to engage the loop and force itsidewardly into the pathof the hook or receiving-point ofthe loop-taker or penetrator. Thus, inthe present eifemplification, a finger 28 is adapted to engage theloopfor shifting the same.

29 is a collar to which the finger is pivoted on a pin 30, the collar inthe resent instance being adjustable about the bearing 31 in which theloop-taker shaft 32 is journaled, a set-screw 33 securing the collar inplace after adjustment.

34 is a cam for moving the finger. It is secured to the shaft 32. Thefinger may be provided with an anti-friction roll 35 adapted to-becontacted by the cam. A spring 36 hearing against the finger and astationary part of the machine normally holds the finger out ofloop-shifting position.

I have found it desirable to operate the finger from the loop-takershaft,.as by this means proper relative sequence of operation may beassured between the motion imparted by the cam to the finger and thebringing of the loop-taker hook into proper position for taking the loopthus shifted. Suitable adjustment may be provided between the cam andsaid shaft as by placing the cam on a disk 37 received about the reducedend 38 of the shaft and adjustably positioned and clamped between thebevel-gear 39 on the shaft 32 and the shoulder 40 on the shaft by meansof a.bolt 4C1 threaded into the end of the shaft.- This adjustmentpermits relative timing between the operation of the finger and thearrival of the looptaking hook at the loop-taking position, and permitswear to be taken up. The adjustment between the collar 29 and thebearing 31 is provided so that the finger may be shifted nearer to orfarther from the needle for properly engaging the loop while avoidingcontact with the needle. For driving the bevel-gear 39, it may be meshedby a bevel-gear 42 on a 'shaft- 43 journaled in bearings 44- and havinga pinion as thereon meshe by a gear 46 on the crank-shaft 47 of themachine.

A further advantage of my invention is that smaller needles may beemployed for a given number in thickness of thread because a needlehaving a shallower long longitudinal groove may be used, as in myinvention the contact of thethread and needlegroove is removed from thepresser-roll or presser-foot and also from the needle-guard.

This contact of the needle-thread with the presser-roll or presser-footand needleuard in previous constructions resulted in injuring the fiberof the needle-thread by continual abrasion against the resser-roll orfoot and guard in the up and down reciprocation of the needle, renderingthe thread liable to be torn. The continual contact between the walls ofthe lon longitudinal groove of the needle with t e resser-roll or footin previous constructions also resulted in wearing down the roove and inturn further damaging the tl iread by abrasion with the resser-roll orfoot. Inorder to reduce thls, difficulty to theminimum, in

'old constructions it was customary to use a comparatively large needlefor a given thread. As I remove the grooves from contact with thepresser-roll or foot, I avoid the damaging effect to both thread. andneedle, and I am further permitted thereby to use a smaller needle for agiven number of thread as the needle-thread lies in the path of the feedor seam and removedfrom contact with the 'presser-roll or foot andneedle-guard. This has the further advantage that in machines employinga plurality of reciprocating needles simultaneously, I am permitted tobring the seams closer together through my ability to employ smallerneedles, and instancing for instance a two-- needle machine, by reasonof my being able to employ needles of smaller cross-section, I makesmaller holes in the material being sewed, thereby causing less damageto the material and leaving greater unpierced material between seams,resulting in stronger finished goods, and I further avoid bunching ofthe goods between seams.

In old constructions of two-needle machines in which the needle-threadsextended laterally through the eyes of the needles,

provision had to be made for holes, penetrating the material beingsewed, of suiiicient diameter to receive in lateral extension not onlytwo needles but also two limbs each of two needle-threads, namely, thesupply and seam-loop limbs, making two needles and four threads in all.In my invention, however, the needle-threads extending in the directionof the length of the seam or feed, no provision need be made forthread-limbs between needles, thus enabling me to bring the needlescloser together or else leaving greater uninjured stock between theseams.

In the exemplification of my invention as applied to a two-needlemachine shown in Figs. 18, 19 and 20, the needles are represented asplaced side by side. In this exemplification of my invention theseam-loop of each seamnormally extends in substantially the direction oflength of the seam or feed as shown in the single-needle machine, and Iprovide a loop-shifter for each loop for shifting each loop laterallyout of its normal plane of extension so that the two loops will bedirected away from each other toward opposite sides of the respectiveneedles and sidewardly of the respective needles for being received bysuitable looptakers or 'penetrators operating at" the respective sidesof the needles. I provide a separate loop-taker or penetrator for eachneedle-thread so that two distinct seams will be formed for permittingthe material to lie in its normal plane, without danger of being bunchedor forming ribs between the seams as shown in Fig. 16, in which f showsthe rib, 0 d represent the two seams, and e the knot at the back of theseams which is formed when a single loop-taker is employed for bothseams. Thus I provide a loop-taker, bobbin-holder and bobbin, which mayalso take the form of a shuttle, boat or other desirable loop-taker orpenetrator, and loop-shifter, at the respective right hand and left-handsides of the needles. In this exemplification of my invention I have inthe drawings designated the parts 011 the left of the needles by similarreference nu morals to those by which the parts at the right-hand sideare designated, but provided with the exponent prime.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle having athread-eye, of a rotary loop-taker having a. loop-penetrating hook, aloop-shifter having a contact-part thereon in rear of said needle fordirecting the seam-limb of the loop laterally into the plane ofoperation of .said looppenetrating hook, operating means between saidlooptaker and shifter for operating the same in unison, a shield actingon thesupply-limb of said loop maintaining said supply-limb out of rangeof said hook of said loop taker, and means for adjusting said shieldtoward and from the path of movement of said needle, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle having athread-eye, of a rotary loop-taker, a loop-shifter having a contact-partthereon in rear of said needle for directing the seam-limb of the looplaterally into the plane of operation of said looptaker, operating meansbetween said looptaker and shifter for operating the same in unison, ashield acting on the supply-limb of said loop for maintaining saidsupplylimb out of range of the point of said looptaker, and means foradjusting said shield toward and from the path of movement of saidneedle, said shield having a clearancerecess for said loop-taker,substantially as described.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle having athread-eye extending substantially parallel with the direction of feedof the machine, of a loop-penetrator operating at the side of saidneedle, means for directing the seam-limb of the loop formed byWithdrawal of said needle laterally of the needle for receiving saidlooppenetrator, said means having a contact-part for said seam-limb inrear of said needle, a shield acting on the supply-limb of said loop formaintaining'said supply-limb out of range of the point of saidloop-taker, and means for adjusting said shield toward and from the pathof movement of said needle,

' substantially as described.

t. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle having an eye atits plercmg end, a loop-taker operating at one side and a loop-shifterhaving an engaging part for the seam-limb of the loop normally at theother side ofthe vertical plane of extension of said needle-eye, saidloop-shifter operating across the rear face of said needle, asupply-limb shield at the forward face of said needle acting on thesupply-limb of the loop for maintaining said supply-limb out of range ofthe point of said loop-taker, and means for adjusting said shield towardand from the path of movement of: said needle, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle having athread-eye extending substantially parallel with the direction of feedof the machine, a loop-taker rotating at the side of said needle, afinger for directing the seam-limb of the loop laterally into the planeof operation of said loop-taker, said finger having a contact-part forsaid loop operating across the rear face of said needle, means forrotating said loop-taker, a cam rotated by said latter means foroperating said finger, means for adjusting said cam about its rotaryaxis and a spring for normally retracting said finger, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle having athread-eye extending substantially parallel with the direction of feedof the machine, a loop-taker rotating at the side of said needle, afinger for directing the seam-limb of the loop laterally into the planeof operation of said loop-taker, said finger having a contactpart forsaid loop operating across the rear face of said needle, means forrotating said loop-taker, a shield for the supplylimb of said loop, acam rotated by said latter means for operating said finger, means foradjusting said cam about its rotary axis and a spring for normallyretracting said finger, substantially as described.

7. In a sewing machine, the combination withv a needle having athread-eye extending substantially parallel with the direction offeed ofthe machine, a loop-taker rotating at the side of said needle, a fingerfor directing the seam-limb of the loop laterally into the plane ofoperation of said loop-taker, means for rotating said loop-taker, a camrotated by said latter means for operating said finger, and a spring fornormally retracting said finger, saidcam and finger having adjustmentbetween them for timing the operation of said finger, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle having athread-eye extending substantially parallel with the direction of feedof the machine, a loop-taker rotating at the side of said needle, afinger for directing the seamlimb of the loop laterally into the planeof operation 0 said loop-taker, means for rotating said loop-taker, ashield for the supply-limb of said loop, a cam rotion of said finger,substantially as described.

9. In a sewing machine, the combination of a rotary loop-taker, a 100shifter for shifting the loop formed by wlthdrawal of the needlelaterally into the plane of operation of said loop-taker, saidloop-taker having a loop-taking hook, a cam for operatingsaidloop-shifter, said cam and loop-taker rotating together, and saidcam and hook located radially of the rotary axis of said loop-taker insuch positions as -to shift said loop-shifter by said cam in advance ofthe arrival of said hook at the loop-position in its rotation,substantially as described.

10. In a sewing machine, the combination of a rotary loop-taker, aloop-shifter for shifting the loop formed by the withdrawal of theneedle laterally into the plane of operation of said loop-taker, saidloop-taker hav-. ing a loop-taking hook, a cam for operating saidloop-shifter, said cam and loop-taker rotating together, said cam andhook located radially of the rotary axis of said loop-taker in suchpositions as to shift said loop-shifter by said cam in advance of thearrival of said hook at the loop-position in its rotation, and means forrelatively adjusting the angular distance between said cam and hook,substantially as described.

11. In a sewing machine, the combination, of a loop-penetrator, aloop-shifter for shifting the loop formed by the withdrawal of theneedle laterally into the path of operation of said loop penetrator, andmeans for permitting adjustment of said loop-shifter toward and from thelongitudinal axis of said needle.

12. In a sewing machine, the combination, with a needle having an eye atits piercing end extending in substantially the irection of feed of saidmachine, a looppenetrator operating at the side of said needle, a fingerfor shifting the loop formed in the needle-thread by wlthdrawal of saidneedle laterally into the path of said looppenetrator, and means forpermitting adjustment of said finger toward and from the longitudinalaxis of the needle.

13. In a sewing machine, the combination of a rotary loop-taker, afinger having a contact-part for shifting the loop formed in theneedle-thread by withdrawal of the needle laterally into the path ofsaid looptaker, a pivot for said finger, and means for permittingadjustment of said pivot for adjusting the contact-part of said fingerfor the loo toward and from the longitudinal axis 0 said needle,substantially as described.

14. In a sewing machine, the combination, of a rotary loop-taker, afinger having a v contact-part for shifting the loop formed in theneedle-thread by withdrawal of the needle laterally into the path ofsaid looptaker, a pivot for said finger, means for permitting adjustmentof said pivot for ad usting the contact-part of saidfinger for the looptoward and from the longitudinal plane of said needle, a cam foroperating said finger, and means permitting adjustment between said camand finger, substantially as described.

15. In a sewing machine, the combination, of a rotary loop-taker, afinger having a contact-part for shifting the loop formed in theneedle-thread by withdrawal of the needle laterally into the path ofsaid looptaker, a pivot for said finger, means for permitting adjustmentof said pivot for adjusting the contact-part of said finger for the looptoward and from the longitudinal plane of said needle, and a cam foroperating said finger,, substantially as described.

16. In a sewing machine, the combination, with a needle havin athread-eye at its iercing end substantially parallel with the directionof feed of said machine, of a rotary loop-taker at the side of thevertical plane of extension of said eye, a finger for shifting the loopformed by the withdrawal of the -needle into the path of operation ofsaid loop-taker, a collar adjustable about the rotary axis of saidloop-taker, and a pivot for said finger on'said collar, substantially asdescribed.

17 In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle havin a threadeyeat its piercing end substantially parallel with the direction of feed ofsaid machine, of a rotary loop-taker at the side of the vertical planeof extension of said eye, a finger for shifting the loop formed by thewithdrawal of the needle into the path of operation of said loop-taker,a collar adjustable about the rotary axis of said 100 -taker, a pivotfor said finger on said col ar, and a cam for said finger rotating withsaid loop-taker,

substantially as described.

18. In a sewing machine, the combination, with a needle having athread-eye at its piercing end substantially parallel with the directionof feed of said machine, of a rotary loop-taker at the side of thevertical plane of extension-of said eye, a finger for shifting the loopformed by the withdrawal of the needleinto the path of operation of saidloop-taker, a collar adjustable about the rotary axis of saidloop-taker, a pivot for said finger on said collar, a cam for said finer rotating with said loop-taker, and means or permit-ting adjustment ofsaid collar and said cam about the rotary axis of said loop-taker,substantially as described.

19. In a two-needle sewing machine, the combination with the needles,each of which has an eye opening in substantially the d tat 959,948

rect-ion of feed of said machine, of a looppenetrator for theneedle-thread of each needle operating at the side of its needle, andmeans for directing the loops formed by the withdrawal of said needleslaterally in opposing directions into the respective paths of operationof said respective loop-penetrators.

20. In a two-needle sewing machine, the combination, wit-h a pair ofneedles, each of which has a thread-eye extending substantially parallelto the direction of feed of the machine, a loop-penetrator for thethread of each needle operating at the side of its needle and atopposite sides of said needles, and loop-shifting means operating uponsaid needle-threads between the vertical planes of extension of saidrespective needle-eyes for shifting the loops formed by the withdrawalof said needles laterally into the paths of operation ofsaidloop-penetrators and thereby separating said loops.

21. In a two-needle sewing machine, the combination, with a pair ofneedles, each of which has a thread-eye extending substantially parallelto the direction of feed of the,

machine, a loop-penetrator for the seamlimb of each needle operating atthe side of its needle and at opposite sides of said needles,loop-shifting means operating upon said seam-limbs between the verticalplanes of extension of said respective needleeyes for shifting the loopsof said seam-limb formed by the withdrawal of said needles laterallyinto the paths of operation of said lo0p-penetrators and therebyseparating said seam-limbs of said loops, and a shielding device for thesupply limbs of said loops.

22. In a two-needle sewing machine, the combination with a pair ofneedles each having a'thread-eye extending substantially in thedirect-ion of feed of the machine, a rotary loop-taker for each needle,a loopshifter for shifting the seam-limb of the loop of each needleformed by .the with drawal of said needle into the plane of operation ofits loop-taker, and shielding means for the supply limb of each loop.

23. In a two-needle sewing machine, the combination with a pair ofneedles each having a thread-eye extending substantially in thedirection of feed of the machine, a rotary loop-taker for each needle,and a loop-shifter for shifting the seam-limb of the loop of each needleformed by the withdrawal of said needle into the plane of operation ofits looptaker.

24. In a two-needle sewing machine, the combination with the pair ofneedles, of a loop-penetrator for each needle, means for separating thethread-loops formed by the withdrawal of said needles respectively intothe paths of operation of said respective looppenetrators, andadjustable means for operating said loop-shifting means.

25. In a two-needle sewing machlne, the combination with the pair ofneedles, of a loop-penetrator for each needle, shifting means forseparting the thread-loops formed by the withdrawal of said needlesrespectively into the paths of operatlon of said respectiveloopspenetrators, and means for permitting adjustment of said shlftlngmeans toward and from the longitudinal axes of said needles.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name hereto in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. LAUTENSCHLAGER.

Witnesses:

THEODERE C. JUNG, CORDELIA OHEARN.

